When is It Time for a Hip Replacement?
Are you suffering from incessant hip pain which is so worse that you are considering a hip replacement? But, remember, hip pain can have a number of causes, and hip replacement surgery may not ensure permanent relief. Let’s first understand the medical aspect of the hip replacement surgery.
The hip joint has a ball-and-socket mechanism, where the ball is located at the top of the thigh bone. With total hip replacement surgery, the damaged ball is basically replaced with a metal ball, and the hip socket is resurfaced with the help of a metal shell and a plastic liner. Unlike before, the artificial components used today are relatively stronger with a plethora of designs.
Consider some of the symptoms below and discuss elaborately with the doctor before proceeding with the surgery.
Immobility issues: If the intensity of the problem has reached a stage that it has impacted your mobility severely and it is difficult for you to climb stairs or step in and out of cars, bathtubs, and chairs. You are increasingly dependent on others to complete your daily tasks, and there has been a decline in hip motion, or you are unable to bend like before.
Incessant pain: If you have a recurring pain, swelling, or discomfort in your hip and the pain worsens during rainy weather, then it should raise an alarm. The pain is so worse that you are awake most at nights despite taking your anti-inflammatory medications. Such a pain might refuse to go away with rest or non-surgical procedures, and you feel a grating of your joint. Not just this; every time during and after exercise you feel the pain, then there are high chances that you will be recommended a surgery.
Osteoarthritis could make it worse: If you are already detected with osteoarthritis and the disease is pulling you down physically, emotionally, and mentally, then consider taking an opinion from a surgeon. Patients who have osteoarthritis of the hip mostly find difficulty in walking. The diagnosis is difficult in the beginning because the pain can be felt in different locations, including the groin, thigh, buttocks, or knee. The pain can be sharp, or it can be a dull ache, and the hip is often stiff. If your tests show advanced arthritis or severe joint damage, then it’s the time to consider the surgery.
Groin pain: Most patients with hip arthritis experience pain deep down in the groin, and such a pain can be alleviated by a hip replacement. Some patients with hip arthritis might also complain of knee pain because the nerves are usually impacted by inflammation. Hip arthritis can cause a patient knee pain even when there is no issue with the knee. In some cases, patients may experience buttock pain coming from the hip but, otherwise, could result from the back.
Bone-on-bone arthritis: Mostly patients wait for arthritis to progress and until the bones start touching. This basically means that the cartilage, which acts as a cushion between the bones in joint, will wear away leaving the bones to grind together.
The cost of Hip Joint Replacement procedure could vary between Rs 70,000 and Rs 1 lakh but can go beyond, depending on the implants used.
It is in your best interest to find out about Affordable Surgery Packages and determining the intensity of your hip problem after discussing it with the surgeon to chart out the right course of action.